Having read cathrynp's brilliant post about her parkrun experience, I have just signed up. I have two parkruns fairly local to me, but will be trying the one in Exeter first - by the riverside, so mostly level (I hope!). I can't go this Saturday, but if I have a good week next week, I might give it a go the following Saturday.
Any other newbies thinking about joining up??
Yes I am - I got a Garmin forerunner 110 and seriously looking at taking this running lark head on. I've got a parkrun fairly close and have looked at it a number of times??????? .... going off to find cathrynp's post. Well done RK for signing up, keep us posted how you get on 
I am using Map My Run on my iphone atm, but do wonder if a Garmin is in my future ;0). Same as you, I have looked at the parkrun website so many times and then decided to go for it last night. Have you signed up yet??
I've not signed up yet but keep looking at the distances I'm doing on C25K which including the warm up and cool down are close to 5K an I don't mind being the last one back but won't want to be ???
Don't worry about it too much. i did my first parkrun at week 7 of C25k with my aim of "just getting round" and surprised myself at how well I did - and i wasn't last! Runners are really friendly and all abilities from serious club runners to those who jog and walk their way round. go for it I say!
I did the Exeter parkrun a couple of weeks ago, they are lovely! It is almost all absolutely level I found the worst bit to be running around the edge of the playing field on the grass, not because of hills but because of the grass. To hand in your token and get a time you have to go a little way up the river to the climbing centre on the quay, it is upstairs next to the cafe. I just happened to be staying in Exeter for the weekend, it's not very local for me unfortunately.
I read your post that you had run it, level sounds good to me. The route I run at the moment is pretty level so I want to stick to that at the mo. Do you have a parkrun local to where you live?
I think the nearest is about 20 miles which is a significant distance really. I have measured out a 5k circuit as level as possible which I have done a couple of times and which I hope to do more regularly.
I joined up several weeks back, print lots of bar codes off and I'm planning to do it not this weekend but at the end of week 7 
I've also joined a running club too every Tuesday night but can't start with them until the 23rd due to work
I am thinking of maybe the end of Week 7 too....I was looking at the plastic bar codes you can buy, but maybe I will just print some first of all. Good for you joining a running club. I think there is a ladies running club down the road from me, so I may pluck the courage up to join it at the end of the programme.
Hi running knitter; I've double laminated* my bar codes and put a key ring - ring on them; a cheap way to protect them if you have one*.
What a good idea - yes I do. DH is the expert laminator (said in my best Arnie voice!) - I will get him on to that - thank you :0)
Good plan ladies - I was wondering what to do with the dark nights approaching, I live where there is little street lighting and have been doing my runs on local common land (don't like hard ground running and am dreading having to resort to it) there is a running club close by - will have to check it out
Hi RK - I am also thinking of doing the Riverside Parkrun! I have got as far as printing off the barcodes but have never done a parkrun before. I often run around exeter quay as it is so level. Let me know when you decide to do the parkrun and I'll give it a go too! Good luck.
Ooh I will let you know - we will have to wear red roses or make up little Couch to 5k badges so we recognise each other ;0). Actually I see you can get real proper pin badges for graduation - might have to get me one of those .
Well done, it sounds exciting. Unfortunately there are none near me so I'm a bit dissapointed but I'm still on week 6 so a few weeks left to go yet before
I consider travellling to one.
That is a shame :0/...I am on Week 6 too, but I wanted to have something else to work towards.
Park runs are fab, really great atmosphere and a real range of runners. Everyone is made to feel welcome.
I have signed up for my local run in Abingdon, but will wait until I have graduated.... I know my own weaknesses and know for a fact that if I go and do one now (I am in wk4) I will run the whole way and bugger myself up! I can't wait to give it a go
Sounds a sensible attitude - I am only going to go once I have managed to complete at least week 7 or maybe 8.
Just received an email inviting me to the kings lynn park run 3rd year anniversary run on Saturday, would be rude of me not to go. Ekkkkk
So are you going to go ;0)??
I was going but sadly my car needs more work than expected so it's got to go in at 8.30am so I have got to work now so can't go. So grrrrrr as I was in the mood this weekend
Oooh so glad I could inspire you and I really hope you enjoy the experience. Best of luck with it!
It sounded such a positive experience - thank you :0)
Cooo, I didn't know that there was one at the riverside in Exeter. The Mrs and I have been talking about the Killerton one for my birthday in mid Oct, or possibly the Plybridge woods one near Plymouth.
Our son was rowing in the Exeter regatta a few weeks ago, but it was just too busy to run ~ damned rowers ;~)
I only knew about the Killerton one, but someone on another forum told me about the Riverside run. I think it has only been going for about a month, so not very long. I want to try the run at Killerton, but apparently it is a bit more hilly. They are holding one of the night runs in November so I might give that a try. I have just checked the Killerton web site and they are starting a Couch to 5k running club on Saturday!
There is also one at Parke Bovey Tracey - which is a tad hilly I think - but will be giving it a go this Saturday!
That isn't too far from me either...maybe one day. Good luck for Saturday :0)
May I ask where in Devon you are based? We are in South Brent, just off the A38 between Plymouth and Exeter.
I am just outside Cullompton with good access to the M5. There is a parkrun at Taunton as well so I could get to that in about 20-25 mins too.
Ah, further up the M5 towards Bristol. All I really know about Cullumpton is that one of our Scout leaders moved there, and that Fagins are there. Never bought anything there, but visited a few times.
I know Parke! I was the contracted freelance photographer for the Dartmoor National Park Authority who are based there, and our son did some orienteering training in the grounds; I was also on the Local Access Forum. BUT, I didn't know there is a PR there. How silly do I feel now!
Not sure where you are, but there is one at NT Parke at Bovey Tracey also. It's a bit up and down, but great atmosphere and some of us go to the cafe afterwards for coffee and a chat.
I know Parke! I was the contracted freelance photographer for the Dartmoor National Park Authority who are based there, and our son did some orienteering training in the grounds; I was also on the Local Access Forum. BUT, I didn't know there is a PR there. How silly do I feel now!
There's a ParkRun apparently starting near me at the end of this month.
I'm not signed up yet, as I'm still a good way of being able to make a decent fist of it, but it is a target to aim for once I get to the later weeks/graduation.
Planning to pop along and have a nosey when it's up and running though.
Nice to know it is there when you are ready :0)
Eeek - Parkrun
A Parkrun practice!
Parkrun run report :)
Parkrun
